Folding mechanism



Feb. 2'7, 1934, H. FANKBONER FOLDING MECHANISM Filed March l4, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb 27 11934. H. FANKBONER.

FOLDING MECHANISM Filed March 14, 1931 3 Sheets-bneefc 3 Patented Feb. 27, 1934 rear FOLDING MECHANISM Harland Fanirboner, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, ill a corporation of llllinois Appiication March 14,

20 Claims.

The present invention relates to grippers and more particularly to a novel and useful jaw mechanism for use in connection with the fold- H ing mechanisms of magazine or other rotary I printing presses.

" of the invention.

Of the drawings: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary cross section of one of the illustrative embodiments of the present invention and shows the jaw mechanism as con- 3 its bending structed for use with a rotary folding mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l, with certain parts broken away;

is a fragmentary vertical cross section Fig. 3

taken on the line 3 30f Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is another fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a plan of a second and modified embodiment of the invention with certain parts J broken away; and

Fig. 6 is a detail section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a folding jaw mechanism capable of being operated at an unusually high speed due to the light weight and low inertia of its moving parts. A further object of the invention is the provision of a folding jaw mechanism in which the torsional twist of the jaw shaft as well as is substantially eliminated. Still another object is the provision of a jaw mecha nism which is simple, rugged, relatively inexpensive and can be readily assembled.

In accordance with the present invention, the movable folding jaw and the operating shaft therefor are integral and operate in a cylindrical recess formed in the surface of the cylinder and closely adjacent to the periphery of the cylinder.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description 1931. Serial No. 522,737

as well are exemplary and explanatory of the in-. vention but are not restricted thereon.

Referring now in detail to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, showing one of the illustrative embodiments of the invention, the jaw cylinder 10 is provided with a cylindrical recess 11 formed in the exterior surface of the cylinder and extending longitudinally substantially from one end of the cylinder to the other. In this cylindrical recess is rotatably mounted a cylindrical, shaft-like jaw member 12, which extends for a short distance beyond the ends of the cylinder and is retained within the recess by means of the lugs 13 which are integral with the cylinder body. The jaw member 12 is preferably of substantially the same 7 0 size as the recess and is supported thereby substantially throughout its length.

The jaw member 12 is milled out, intermediate its ends and for slightly more than the width of the sheets to be folded, to provide a pair of generally radial faces 14, preferably spaced from each other slightly more than 90. The ends 15 and 16 of the jaw member 12 are reduced in diameter to provide shoulders which cooperate with collars l7 and 18 limiting axial movement of the jaw so member within the recess. Collars 17 and 18 are secured to the end walls of the cylinder by means of the cap screws 19, and at one end, 15, the jaw member projects beyond collar 17 and is provided with the usual cam roller lever 20. Lever 20 is securely fastened to the jaw member 12, and at its outer end carries a rotatable cam roller 21 which cooperates in the usual manner with a jawoperating cam, not shown.

At the side of the recess 11 away from the retaining lugs 13 is provided a seat, formed in the surface of the cylinder, into which is fitted a fixed or immovable jaw 22, reinovably held therein by means of the screws 23. This fixed jaw is formed with a circular outer face 24, corresponding generally with the periphery of the cylinder 10, and extends longitudinally of the cylinder and parallel to the movable jaw member 12. The fixed jaw is also provided with a jaw face 24 having a narrow projecting portion 25, extending into the vertex of the angle formed between the radial faces 14 on the movable jaw member 12, and a second narrow paper-gripping portion 26 extending to the periphery of the cylinder 10 and being substantially radial with respect to both the cylinder and movable jaw member.

Means are also preferably provided for resiliently moving the folding jaws to closed or papergripping position, under the influence of the cam roller 21 and the usual operating cam. For this purpose the recess 11 is formed with one or more slots 27 extending inwardly toward the center of the cylinder. Springs 23 are provided within the cylinder attached to the inner end walls of the cylinder at 29 and also to the levers 30, threadedly secured in the jaw member 12.

For variably positioning the movable jaw face of the jaw member 12 relatively to the fixed jaw 22 to compensate for longitudinal variations in thickness of the product, jaw member 12 is preferably provided with a substantially radial slot 31 extending lengthwise of the movable jaw member and closely adjacent to the jaw face 14. At suitable intervals throughout its length, the radial slot 31 is enlarged and threaded to receive threaded, tapered plugs 32, and by variably positioning these plugs, the movable jaw face 14 can be moved relatively to the fixed jaw face 24.

In addition to their permitting the jaw to be variably positioned for variations in thickness of product, the plugs 32 may be used to maintain a uniform pressure between the jaws throughout their length, thereby compensating for any slight torsional twist in the movable jaw member 12, or any permanent set which might develop in the jaw. Plugs 32 are preferably slotted at their outer ends to receive the blade of a screw-driver thereby permitting the operator to advance any desired portion of the jaw face 14, to overcome wear or localized permanent set in the jaw face. By varying the position of the plugs 32, the jaw face 14 may be made to conform to the surface of the fixed jaw 22.

Referring now to the remaining figures of the drawings showing another illustrative embodiment of the invention, the movable jaw member 12' is rotatably journalled in the cylindrical recess 11 formed in the surface of the cylinder. As in the previously described modification the movable jaw member 12 is provided with a pair of radial faces 14 spaced slightly more than 90 apart and cooperating with a longitudinally extending fixed jaw member 22, having a face 24 and paper-gripping surface 26. Jaw 22 is seated in a recess in the periphery of the cylinder 10' and extends into the removed portion of the jaw member 12. The fixed jaw face 24 is substantially radial to the jaw member 12' and the cylinder 10.

For retaining the movable jaw member within the cylindrical recess 11, a removable retaining strip 35 is provided, extends longitudinally of the cylinder and is secured within a suitable recess in the cylinder by means of the screws 36. On its outer surface 37, the retaining strip conforms generally to the periphery of the cylinder 10 and on its inner face is provided with a cylindrical groove 38 of a curvature similar to that of the jaw member 12. Spring means are also provided for closing the folding jaw and as embodied, spring 28 is connected to the cylinder at 29 and to lever 30 and tends to rotate the jaw member 12 to grip the paper between the paper gripping surfaces 39 and 26.

For advancing or retracting the gripping surface 39 of the movable jaw member 12' at one portion of its length relative to the surface at another point along its length, jaw member 12 is preferably formed in a plurality of longitudinally alined sections. These sections are connected together at their inner ends by means of the end plates 40 and 41. One of these end plates, 40 is circumferentially slotted, as at 42, to receive a post 43 projecting through the slot and pivotally secured to the other end plate 41.

Post 43 carries a threaded member 44, held against axial movement by means of its head 45 and a pinned collar 46, and is threaded into a threaded eye 47, pivotally mounted on end plate 40. As threaded member 44 is rotated, one end plate is moved relatively to the other and the angular relation of the jaw faces 14 and 24 longitudinally of the jaw member is varied to compensate for variations in thickness of the product across the cylinder.

For securely fastening the sections of jaw member 12 together, the end plate 40 is also slotted to receive bolts 48 which are threaded in plate 41. Bolts 48 are, of course, loosened during movement of the threaded member 44.

For facilitating assembly of the several secof the jaw member 12' and for permitting easy access to the head of threaded member 44, the cylinder 10 is formed with a narrow circumferentially extending slot 49 communicating with the interior of the cylinder. This slot is alined with the end plates 40 and 41 of the jaw member 12.

For preventing axial movement of the movable jaw member 12, the cylindrical ends of the alined sections project through the end walls of the cylinder 10, and are reduced in diameter to provide shoulders which abut against the in her faces of the collars 50. At one end, the jaw member 12' is provided with the cam roller 21 and lever 20 secured to the jaw member 12 so that the jaw member can be moved by the usual cam operating means.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a cylindrical recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder, a sectoral member rotatably seated in said recess, a jaw mounted on the cylinder and extending into the recess and adapted to be engaged by the member and means for variably positioning certain parts of said member relative to other parts thereof.

2. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a cylindrical recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder, a sectoral member rotatably seated in said recess, a jaw mounted on the cylinder and extending into the recess, said jaw having a flat face extending radially of the cylinder and the recess and cooperating with the sectoral member to grip a sheet or sheets.

3. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a cylindrical recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder, a sectoral member rotatably seated in said recess, a retaining strip mounted on one side of the recess and retaining the member within the recess and a jaw mounted on the other side of the recess and extending thereinto.

4. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a cylindrical recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder, a sectoral member rotatably seated in said recess, a retaining strip mounted on one side of the recess and retaining the member within the recess and a jaw mounted on the other side of the recess and extending thereinto, said jaw having a jaw face extending radially of the cylinder and recess.

5. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a plurality of longitudinally alined sectoral members rotatably seated in a recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder and near "he periphery of the cylinder, said members being journalled in the recess at a plurality of points throughout their length, a retaining strip to retain said members within the recess, a fixed jaw secured to the cylinder at one side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess, and projecting within the recess and cooperating with the members to grip a sheet or sheets therebetween, means for angularly moving the members relative to each other and means for rotating said members to grip a sheet or sheets between them and the'fixed jaw.

6. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a plurality of longitudinally alined sectoral members rotatably seated in a recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder and near the periphery of the cylinder, said members being journalled at a plurality of points throughout their length, said sectoral members having a cross-section greater than a semi-circle, a fixed jaw secured to the cylinder at one side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess, and projecting within the recess and cooperating with the members to grip a sheet or sheets therebetween, means for coupling said members together and for angularly moving the members relative to each other, resilient means for closing said members against said fixed jaw and means for rotating said members to receive a sheet or sheets between them and the fixed jaw.

7. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a plurality of longitudinally alined sectoral members i'otatably seated in a recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder and near the periphery of the cylinder, said members being journalled in the recess at a plurality of points throughout their length, said sectoral members having a cross-section greater than a semi-circle, a fixed jaw secured to the cylinder at the other side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess, and projecting within the recess and cooperating with the members to grip a sheet or sheets therebetween, resilient means for closing said members against said fixed jaw and means for rotating said members to receive a sheet or sheets between them and the fixed jaw.

8. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a plurality of longitudinally alined sectoral members rotatably seated in a recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder and near the periphery of the cylinder, said members being journalled at a plurality of points throughout their length, a retaining strip adjacent to one side of said recess to retain said members within the recess, said sectoral members having a cross-section greater than a semicircle, a fixed jaw secured to the cylinder at the other side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess, and projecting within the recess and cooperating with the members to grip a sheet or sheets therebetween, means for coupling said members together and for angularly moving the members relative to each other, means for closing said members against said fixed jaw and means for rotating said members to receive a sheet or sheets between them and the fixed jaw.

9. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a plurality of longitudinally alined sectoral members rotatably seated in a recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder and near the periphery of the cylinder, said members being journalled in the recess at a plurality of points throughout their length, a retaining strip adjacent to one side of said recess to retain said members within the recess, said sectoral members having a cross section greater than a semi-circle, a jaw secured to the cylinder at the other side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess, and projecting within the recess and cooperating with the members to rip a sheet or sheets therebetween, means for coupling said members together, means for closing said members against said fixed jaw and means for rotating said members to receive a sheet or sheets between them and the fixed jaw.

10. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a plurality of longitudinally alined sectoral members rotatably seated in a cylindrical recess extending longitudinal 1y of the cylinder and near the periphery of the cylinder, said m mbers being journalled in the recess at a plurality of points throughout their length, a retaining strip adjacent to one side of said recess and provided with a cylindrically concave edge contacting with said members to retain said members within the recess, said sectoral members having a cross-section greater than a semi-circle, a fixed jaw secured to the cylinder at the other side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess, and projecting within the cylindrical recess and cooperating with the members to grip a sheet or sheets therebetween, means for coupling said members together and for angularly moving the members relative to each other, resilient means for closing said members against said fixed jaw and means for rotatrotatably seated in a recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder and near the periphery of the cylinder, said member being journalled at a plurality of points throughout its length, said sectoral member having a cross section greater than a semi-circle, a fixed jaw secured to the cylinder at one side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess and projecting within the cylindrical recess, means for closing said member against said fixed jaw and means for moving said jaws apart to receive a sheet or sheets therebetween.

12. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a sectoral member rotatably seated in a cylindrical recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder and near the periphery of the cylinder, said member being journalled in the recess at a plurality of points throughout its length, a retaining strip adjacent to one side of said recess to retain said member within the recess, said sectoral member having a cross section greater than a semi-circle and a longitudinally extending deep slot near one radial side of the member, a fixed jaw secured to the cylinder at the other side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess and projecting within the cylindrical recess, resilient means for closing said member against said fixed jaw and means for moving said jaws apart to receive a sheet or sheets therebetween.

13. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a sectoral member rotatably seated in a recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder and near the periphery of the cylinder said member being journalled at a plurality of points throughout its length, said sectoral member having a cross section greater than a semi-circle and a longitudinally extending deep slot near one radial side of the member and a plurality of \vedging means in said slot and spaced thcrealong, a fixed jaw secured to the cylinder at the other side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess and projecting within the cylindrical recess, means for closing said member against said fixed jaw and means for moving said jaws apart to receive a sheet or sheets therebetween, said wedging means being adapted to variably posi tion that portion of the member which contacts with the fixed jaw face to permit tight gripping of a group of sheets Varying in thickness along the length of the jaws.

14. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a sectoral member rotatably seated in a recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder and near the periphery of the cylinder, said member being journalled at a plurality of points throughout its length, said sectoral member having a cross section greater than a semi-circle and a longitudinally extending deep slot near one radial side or the member and a plurality of tapered screws threaded in said slot and spaced therealong, a fixed jaw secured to the cylinder at one side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess and projecting within the cylindrical recess, resilient means for closing said member against said fixed jaw and means for moving said jaws apart to receive a sheet or sheets therebetween, said tapered screws being adapted to variably position that portion of the member which contacts with the fixed jaw face to permit tight gripping of a group of sheets varying in thickness along the length of the jaws.

15. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a sectoral member rotatably seated in a recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder and near the periphery of the cylinder, said member being journalled in the recess at a plurality of points throughout its length, a retaining strip adjacent to one side of said recess to retain said member within the recess, said sectoral member having a cross section greater than a semi-circle and a longitudinally extending deep slot near one radial side of the member and a plurality of tapered screws threaded in said slot and spaced therealong, a fixed jaw secured to the cylinder at the other side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess and projecting within the cylindrical recess, means for closing said member against said fixed jaw and means for moving said jaws apart to receive a sheet or sheets therebetween, said tapered screws being adapted to variably position that portion of the member which contacts with the fixed jaw face to permit tight gripping of a group of sheets varying in thickness along the length of the jaws.

16. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination an integral sectoral member rotatably seated in a cylindrical recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder and near the periphery of the cylinder, .said member being journalled in the recess at a plurality of points throughout its length, a retaining strip adjacent to one side of said recess and provided with a cylindrically cancave edge contacting with said member to retain said member within the recess, said sectoral member having a cross section greater than a semi-circle and a longitudinally extending deep slot near one radial side of the member and a plurality of tapered screws threaded in said slot and spaced therealong, a fixed jaw secured to the cylinder at the other side of the recess and having a face extending substantially radially of the cylinder and recess and projecting within the cylindrical recess, resilient means for closing said member against said fixed jaw and means for moving said jaws apart to receive a sheet or sheets therebetween, said tapered screws being adapted to variably position that portion of the member which contacts with the fixed jaw face to permit tight gripping of a group of sheets varying in thickness along the length or" the jaws.

17. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a shaft-like member formed with a recessed jaw face and extending longitudinally of the cylinder, a fixed jaw mounted on the cylinder and extending into said recess and means for variably positioning certain parts of said jaw face relatively to other parts thereof.

18. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a shaft-like member formed with coacting jaw faces, one of said faces being carried by said shaft-like member, and means for minutely and locally variably positioning the movable jaw face relatively to the other jaw face.

19. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a movable jaw, a fixed jaw coacting therewith throughout their length and means for locally variably positioning the movable jaw face relatively to the fixed jaw face.

20. In a folding cylinder, a jaw construction including in combination a movable jaw, a fixed jaw contacting therewith at a plurality of points, a shaft for moving the movable jaw and means for advancing and retracting the movable jaw face locally relative to the remainder of the jaw face.

HARLAND FANKBONER. 

